Ngurin river flows again as storms hit northern WA

Heavy rain in the Pilbara region of WA has seen the Ngurin river flow again as 77 millimetres fell in the Roebourne district over the New Year.

The culturally significant river, known as the Harding River, has been dry for some years but thunderstorms and rain saw residents waking to see it flowing again, with some venturing out to paddle in the waters.

And more rain is forecast with the State Emergency Service warning about swimming in the now fast-flowing river.

“Accidents can happen within an instant,” Pilbara district officer Shannon Brophy told the ABC.

“There’s been records of people just sitting inside dams and waterways and then metre-high walls [of water] coming in with no notification at all.

“The overall pattern of the weather is conducive to flash flooding, so be careful on roads and on floodways.”

Picture: ABC